Chardonnay has been a relative late comer to the South African
vineyard landscape. The planting of this great white grape of
Burgundy only really began to take root in the 1980s after a period
of trial, error and experimentation with the finding of plant
material best suited to South African conditions. By 1990 Chardonnay
only comprised 1.5% of all of South Africa's vineyards, with De
Wetshof, Backsberg and Simonsig generally regarded as early pioneers
in the country. Today some 6557.11 ha
of the Cape Winelands is
planted to Chardonnay, with the variety showing its ability to adapt
to an exciting diversity of terroir by being present throughout the
country's wine regions.
The most planted regions as of 2024
are Robertson (1674.32ha), Paarl (1190.63ha ) and Stellenbosch
(960.85ha) and together with these the Cape has a spectacular
regional diversity in its Chardonnay offering. From the mountainous
valley of Franschhoek, the misty West Coast to the cool-climate
areas of Elgin, Walker Bay, Hemel en Aarde and the wind-swept South
Coast, Chardonnay-producers are united in their determination and
ability to make premier Chardonnay from grapes grown in diverse
terroirs.
The increase in Chardonnay plantings has been
complemented by a rigorous commitment to quality as winemakers in
the various geographical pockets seek to imprint their specific
terroir attributes on their wines. This has resulted in
international and local wine critics paying special tribute to the
quality of Cape Chardonnay, more than one of these stating that when
it comes to Chardonnay, South Africa is making some of the best
wines from this grape variety outside of Burgundy.
The most planted regions as of 2024 are Robertson (1674.32ha), Paarl (1190.63ha) and Stellenbosch (960.85ha)
In the initial stages of Chardonnay production - through the 1980s
and early 1990s - many of the country's wines mirrored the New Wine
World's modish obsession with wood-maturation, resulting in wines
that were big, broad and oaked. Today the situation is vastly
different as four decades of experience with the variety has
resulted in Chardonnay-producers from various regions unilaterally
agreeing that the focus must be on expressing terroir and vineyard
in the wine.
As a result of the Cape's riveting and dramatic
array of diversity in soils, climates and topography, South Africa
showcases an astounding Chardonnay offering capturing the
imagination of the local and international wine public. Styles vary
between warm and complete, fresh and cool, to lean and austere. Use
of wood ranges from lengthy maturation in new oak, combinations
between new and old barrels, short spells in used wood to totally
unwooded Chardonnays.
Chardonnay also lies at the heart of
the country's Cap Classique sparkling wine industry. The sector of
bottle-fermented sparkling wines, which was pioneered in 1971, is
one of South Africa's most popular and prized categories. Chardonnay
is by far the most-used variety for Cap Classique base-wines, and
the cultivar plays a significant role in ensuring the continued high
status of this sector.
Cape Chardonnays regularly make their way onto the world's leading wine competition podiums and South African Chardonnay is a leading light in the country's export offering with established markets in Europe, America and the Far East.